KJ calls out Maloofs over arena deal

The Kings’ future in Sacramento looked bright in February, when the city and the team’s owners, the Maloof family, agreeing to a deal for a new downtown stadium that would keep the franchise in the city for the foreseeable future. But now the Maloofs now appear to be having second thoughts with the deal, and the city’s mayor, Kevin Johnson, wrote the family a letter Thursday reminding them of their “handshake” deal. The Maloofs, who as part of the original tentative deal agreed to front $75 million for the arena’s construction, are complaining about a $3.26 million contribution toward environmental studies and other pre-development hurdles and are contending that they never agreed to the fee. The NBA has already reportedly loaned the Maloofs $200,000 to help cover those costs. With the Maloofs potentially willing to balk at the whole stadium proposal all together, Johnson sent a letter to the family that was obtained by the media, reminding them of their responsibility to honor ...